The European Commission has launched a long-delayed EU sustainability rating scheme for large datacentres, alongside a consultation on possible minimum efficiency standards. The initiative aims to make environmental performance easier to compare as Europe expands computing capacity for AI without placing equivalent pressure on electricity grids, water supplies and consumers.

The scheme covers datacentres using more than 500 kW and will assess factors including energy and water consumption, waste-heat reuse, clean-energy use and grid interaction. Electronic labels are expected from 2027, while proposals for mandatory performance standards are planned for the second quarter of 2027 after a consultation ending on 14 December; earlier plans were weakened following industry lobbying, including over regional clean-energy certificate requirements.